ARTICLE TOOLS
Chattanooga: Rende secures State Amateur
Derek Rende joined an elite group of Tennessee golfers that includes Mason Rudolph and Tim Jackson but not Chattanooga legends Lew Oehmig and Ira Templeton.
Rende became the 12th golfer since 1949 to win both the State Open and the State Amateur in a career by winning the amateur championship in a one-hole playoff Friday at Ridgeway Country Club in Memphis.
The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga junior from Soddy-Daisy shot a final-round 2-under-par 69 before making a birdie on the first playoff hole to defeat Joe David of Madison. David carded a 65 to force the extra play.
“This week has been a blessing, and to win the State Amateur the year after winning the State Open is just thrilling,” said Rende, who finished with a four-round total of 14-under 270.
“I’m really excited and it feels good to shoot under par again,” said the former high school three-sport standout. “Getting a bunch of confidence back in my game is nice, because I’ve had a lack of it lately.
“This week has been a blessing.”
UTC senior Jonathan Hodge tied for sixth at 280, and Tullahoma’s Cody Hale was 11th at 283, right between longtime Tennessee amateur stars Danny Green and Jackson. Baylor School senior Jay Vandeventer tied for 16th at 288, and Chattanooga’s Thomas Smith and former Hixson golfer Paul Apyan tied for 23rd at 290.
“I really think this was a good week for Jonathan,” UTC coach Mark Guhne said, “because he’s been working on things that will make him better in the long term and he accomplished some things. While he didn’t win, he had a great week.”
Nobody had a better week than Rende. David had a chance to win on the final hole of regulation after Rende chunked a chip, but David missed his birdie putt and they both settled for par.
“That gave me some life,” said Rende, who thought the ill-placed pitch might cost him. “Early on I knew I was going to have make some birdies late in the day, because Joe was playing so well.”
Rende’s pitch on the playoff hole — the par-5 18th — nestled about seven feet from the hole. The putt rolled in perfectly.
Birdie. Victory. History.
“We worked on his putting a bit lately and got his posture a little better so it’s easier for him to swing the club,” Guhne said. “Then he started making a few on Tuesday and his confidence soared.”
And the scores dropped below par: 65-68-68-69.
“Derek may have turned another corner in finding out how good he really is,” Guhne said. “I’ve never seen that kind of maturity from him. He was in control of his emotions and his game more than I’ve ever seen.”
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